Ending the Right to a Social Security Hearing

The latest attack on the disabled by the Trump Republican federal government is the proposal to end the right to a hearing in person before a Social Security Administrative Law Judge of appeals seeking Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Disability benefits.  For several years, Social Security has been able to limit hearings to video appearances unless you promptly asked for a hearing to be scheduled in person when requesting the hearing.  Now, Social Security has announced that they will decide whether a hearing in person will be offered, requiring the people accept a video hearing, or perhaps, at times, only a hearing by telephone.  This continues the trend of stripping away rights and making it harder to qualify for disability benefits.  Fewer claims and appeals have been approved in recent years.  The latest proposal has been published in the Federal Register and can be read and commented upon at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/11/15/2018-24711/setting-the-manner-for-the-appearance-of-parties-and-witnesses-at-a-hearing